Woman charged in kidnapping of Wisconsin newborn

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Kristen Smith has been charged with federal kidnapping in the case of the missing newborn Kayden Powell, who was abducted from his home and found safe the next day.

Smith“unlawfully and willfully seized, confined, kidnapped, abducted and carried away the victim, [Kayden Powell],” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Wisconsin

It was around 4:30 am Thursday morning that police say Kristen Smith walked into baby Kayden’s bedroom and picked him up as his parents slept.

Kayden and his parents, 18-year old Breanna and 23-year old Bruce Powell were staying with the baby’s great grandmother, Shirley Bennett, at her home before a planned move to Colorado with Smith.

Bennett says she was suspicious of Smith from the moment she showed up a few days ago and that’s what she told investigators

Smith was arrested at a Kum-and-Go at a gas station in West Branch Iowa on an unrelated warrant out of Texas. After a night in jail the West Branch police chief searched the route Smith would have taken from Wisconsin.